Fitness, recreation and sport employment grew by 34% over five years

Almost 96,000 people work in the fitness, recreation and sport sectors, with employment growing by 34% between 2006 and 2011.

Expected to be Australia’s 17th largest employer by 2017, the sectors are facing pressure to adapt owing to changing demographics, increasing demand for personalised service, competition for natural resources and new technology.

According to the 2015 Sport, Fitness and Recreation Environmental Scan released today (30th April) by Service Skills Australia, these sectors play a key role in preventative health, particularly as Australians get older, less active and more overweight. The scan also highlights that fitness, recreation and sport activities not only keep Australians physically healthy, but are also important for mental wellbeing and help build social cohesion and inclusiveness.

Introducing the findings, Service Skills Australia Chief Executive Yasmin King explains “these sectors need new products and workers with new skills to address the challenges ahead, while they continue to play their very significant role in keeping us healthy and connected.” The scan identifies the factors currently impacting on the workforce make up and skills needs of sport, fitness and community and outdoor recreation sectors. It also considers how well the national training system and industry itself are responding to them.

Service Skills Australia suggest that to keep pace with change, the industry needs to become more professional. However, this is difficult given the casual and seasonal nature of many of the jobs and the number of volunteers working in the industry, who are can be hard to retain, support and develop professionally.

King added “the industries need to work together more, including exploring the potential to offer career pathways between sectors, which would reduce some of the transience in the workforce. To assist with this, qualifications are being adapted to give graduates more career development opportunities.”

In terms of skills development, additional communication and facilitation skills are needed to allow graduates to communicate more effectively with their diverse client base, and in some cases, with health care professionals.

To download the Environmental Scans and industry snapshots visit serviceskills.com.au/environmental-scans.

To keep track of the discussion generated by the release of these important documents, connect via social media at @ServiceSkills and #SSAeScan. 

30th April 2015 - TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES MUST OFFER WORLD CLASS SERVICE TO THRIVE

8th December 2014 - FITNESS CLUB MANAGERS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARIES APPROACH $70,000

7th November 2014 - WA RECREATION AND SPORT MANAGERS AVERAGE SALARIES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 A YEAR

7th May 2014 - AQUATIC, FITNESS AND SPORT PROFESSIONALS’ SALARIES LAG BEHIND AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS

29th August 2013 - LEISURE/SERVICE INDUSTRY CAREERS HIGHLIGHTED AS PART OF NATIONAL SKILLS WEEK

6th August 2013 - REPORT INDICATES LEISURE INDUSTRY SKILLS SHORTAGE

20th June 2013 - AQUATIC, FITNESS, RECREATION AND SPORT EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY TRENDS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 

19th November 2010 - FORGET LEISURE: FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY